Talking With Dentures
5 TIPS FOR SPEAKING MORE CONFIDENTLY
Once your mouth muscles adapt to your dentures, you’ll likely be more comfortable talking with friends, speaking up at work, and laughing with family. Here are some ways to practice speaking confidently and clearly with dentures.
Practice talking out loud
When you speak out loud, you’ll be able to hear which words you have the most trouble with. Many new denture wearers have difficulty pronouncing “F” and “S” sounds. Try saying the following tongue twisters a few times a day:
Tiny-tot Tad tasted very little treats.
Fair is foul and foul is fair.
Sister Sue sews shirts, shorts, and shoulder straps for shoulders.
Read from a book in front of the mirror
This will help you re-master common words and sounds. Practice speaking slowly and patiently and you should start to feel more relaxed.
Gently bite down and swallow before you speak
If your dentures shift when you speak, gently biting down and swallowing before you talk will set them in the correct position. Don’t forget to take a deep breath to calm yourself.
Speak at a normal volume
You may feel like you sound louder than usual when you start speaking with dentures. This is because dentures alter the anatomy of your mouth, and therefore, the way sound travels from it. Don’t worry—it’s more noticeable to you than to others, and you will sound more natural over time.
Try using a denture adhesive
If you’re concerned about your dentures shifting while you talk, an adhesive such as Super Poligrip Cushion & Comfort helps provide comfort, with a strong all-day hold.
